Methods and printing system using classification-based consumable use in printing operations

Abstract

An estimation system provides consumable use estimations, such as for ink or toner, in printing operations. The estimation system uses a classification-based consumable use process to estimate the consumable use. A print job is assigned a classification category according to an arbitrary job category selected for the print job and a job property defined for the print job using job settings. A plurality of classification categories are available. Job costing data for the print job is provided and used to determine consumable use values for each sheet in the print job and a total consumable use. This information is used to verify the correct classification category was assigned and to update historical consumable use information. An estimate is provided using the classification category and the distribution of the consumable use for print jobs in the category.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for using classification-based consumable use data in printing operations, the method comprising:
 defining a plurality of classification categories, wherein each classification category includes an arbitrary job category and a job property; 
 printing a print job having a total number of pages at a printing device; 
 receiving job costing data for the print job printed at the printing device at an estimation system; 
 assigning the print job to a classification category of the plurality of classification categories based on a job setting corresponding to the job property of the print job printed at the printing device; 
 determining a consumable use value for each sheet within the print job; 
 determining a total consumable use of the print job printed at the printing device according to the consumable use values and the total number of pages for the print job; and 
 aggregating the total consumable use for the print job with existing consumable use information for completed print jobs assigned to the classification category. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a metric for the print job based on the total consumable use. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metric includes an average consumable use per page, a median consumable use per page, or a geometric mean consumable use per page. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metric includes a per page consumable use distribution. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the arbitrary job category is user-defined. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the job property includes at least one of a paper type, a paper color, a paper size, and a color mode. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the color mode includes a monochrome mode or a color mode. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating a distribution for the classification category according to the total consumable use and the total number of pages. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising defining a number of quantiles for the total consumable use for each classification category. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining a per page consumable use per quantile. 
     
     
       11. A method for using classification-based consumable use data for printing operations, the method comprising:
 printing a print job having a total number of pages at a printing device; 
 receiving job costing data for the print job printed at the printing device at a consumable use estimation system; 
 assigning the print job to a classification category based on an arbitrary job category received with the print job and a job property of the print job printed at the printing device, wherein the arbitrary job category is a user input; 
 determining a consumable use value for each sheet within the print job; 
 determining a total consumable use of the print job printed at the printing device according to the consumable use values and the total number of pages for the print job; and 
 verifying that the print job is classified correctly according to the consumable use values for the sheets using a distribution for the classification category. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the job property includes at least one of a paper type, a paper color, a paper size, and a color mode. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising reporting a metric for the classification category. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the metrics includes at least one of an average consumable use per sheet, a median consumable user per sheet, and a geometric mean consumable use per page. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining the total consumable use does not match a historical consumable use for the classification category. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining the total consumable use does not match a historical consumable use for the classification category includes determining the total consumable use differs from the historical consumable use by a set amount. 
     
     
       17. An estimation system for a printing system, the estimation system including a processor and a memory, wherein the memory includes instructions to configure the processor to
 define a plurality of classification categories, wherein each classification category includes an arbitrary job category and a job property; 
 print a print job having a total number of pages at a printing device; 
 receive job costing data for the print job printed at the printing device at the estimation system; 
 assign the print job to a classification category of the plurality of classification categories based on the arbitrary job category and the job property of the print job printed at the printing device; 
 determine a consumable use value for each sheet within the print job; 
 determine a total consumable use of the print job printed at the printing device according to the consumable use values and the total number of pages for the print job; and 
 aggregate the consumable use values and the total consumable use for the print job with existing consumable use information for completed print jobs assigned to the classification category. 
 
     
     
       18. The consumable use estimation system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a metric for print job based on the total consumable use for the classification category. 
     
     
       19. The consumable use estimation system of  claim 17 , wherein the job property includes at least one of a paper type, a paper color, a paper size, and a color mode. 
     
     
       20. The consumable use estimation system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to verify that the print job is classified correctly according to the total consumable use using a distribution for the classification category.